RS4 B8 & Mountain Bikes

[andrew111]

Anyone using their RS4 for bike transport?? If so what system (Thule, Audi etc) - are they any good?? Are they secure against theft??

Also has anyone protected the car roof in anyway - thinking some kind of clear film... (maybe i'm getting carried away!). Justified the car change to the RS4 by thinking it would be useful as an estate but no way my bike will be going inside and don't want to destroy the paint on the roof with inevitable clumsy mates, mud/stones dropping off tyres, trying to put bike on the roof in the dark etc...

[doodlebug]

Have the wife follow with a transit!!

Graeme's your man.

[Graeme4130]

Hey
I use two Thule 598's for bike carrying. in saying that, my bike generally goes into the boot with the wheel off and a large protective tarpaulin to stop the crap getting on the interior
I have seen protective film used on the roofs of cars before, but in 40k in my B7, I managed to avoid bike damage from crap dropping onto the roof (my B8 has the pana roof, so mainly glass)
It's pretty spacious inside and takes two downhill bikes not probs with front wheels off

In answer to your question, the Thule 598's do lock the bikes on, but how secure they are in anyone's guess
As a downhill bike has a bigger diameter down tube, I zip tie it on at the jaws too for that extra peace of mind
Road bikes, most xc bikes and bmx's are no probs

Another quick point : don't scrimp on the bars either as I had some halfords ones on my b7 and they whilsled at me constantly when there was no bikes on there.
Best ones are either the Thule wingbar edge or the whisbars (I'm not 100% the latter fits b8's though)

[drybeer]

I use the Audi roof cross bars, I'm talking about the ones I have for my C5 RS6 and C7 allroad, not a B8, but the principle's the same. I did buy Thule wing bars for a C7 saloon I had, but really annoyingly I found they whistled really badly! I hoped for great things from them but was really disappointed by them.

As for the bike carrying I use Thule 598s and find them excellent. The Thule website in the UK is "roofracks.co.uk" and Audi also do a Thule 598 with Audi badging on it.

[Graeme4130]

I use the Audi roof cross bars, I'm talking about the ones I have for my C5 RS6 and C7 allroad, not a B8, but the principle's the same. I did buy Thule wing bars for a C7 saloon I had, but really annoyingly I found they whistled really badly! I hoped for great things from them but was really disappointed by them.

As for the bike carrying I use Thule 598s and find them excellent. The Thule website in the UK is "roofracks.co.uk" and Audi also do a Thule 598 with Audi badging on it.

Do they whistle with the 598's off them too ?
I found the 598's whistled depending on how open the front wheel loop was. Try opening or closing it a bit and see if that makes a difference

If it's just with the bars on, then have you tried moving them forward or back on the roof to see if that makes a difference ?

I've been through this process and I found a quite position for them, no probs

[drybeer]

I use the Audi roof cross bars, I'm talking about the ones I have for my C5 RS6 and C7 allroad, not a B8, but the principle's the same. I did buy Thule wing bars for a C7 saloon I had, but really annoyingly I found they whistled really badly! I hoped for great things from them but was really disappointed by them.

As for the bike carrying I use Thule 598s and find them excellent. The Thule website in the UK is "roofracks.co.uk" and Audi also do a Thule 598 with Audi badging on it.

Do they whistle with the 598's off them too ?
I found the 598's whistled depending on how open the front wheel loop was. Try opening or closing it a bit and see if that makes a difference

If it's just with the bars on, then have you tried moving them forward or back on the roof to see if that makes a difference ?

I've been through this process and I found a quite position for them, no probs

Yes whistle also using my older Thule tour racks which I still have two of. No noise on either set up with the Audi roof bars. Seems to debunk the theory that Thule's wingbars would be less wind resistant!

[CunniBlingus]

I have the wing bar and 598's on my avant, whistle slightly at higher speeds, though overall I rate them highly for transporting my bikes around.

[535dboy]

I just take the wheels off then no probs

Wouldn't work if I wanted to take the bike away on some sort of holiday!

[AMB]

Considered bike bag and wheel bags.
I'm a roadie nowadays, but two bikes and loads of kit went to Provence this year with no problems.

[Graeme4130]

Considered bike bag and wheel bags.
I'm a roadie nowadays, but two bikes and loads of kit went to Provence this year with no problems.

You're such a Roady Andy, mountain bikers don't use wheel bags ! (although I've tried to fit my DH wheels in my Mavic road wheel bag, and they didn't fit)

I had 4 BMX's and 4 adults in my car just a couple of weeks ago. With both wheels off, they stack in the boot no probs
Have done 2 downhill bikes with front wheels off in it too, no probs
This time of year I tend to just throw it in the back of my van instead

[AMB]

Considered bike bag and wheel bags.
I'm a roadie nowadays, but two bikes and loads of kit went to Provence this year with no problems.

You're such a Roady Andy, mountain bikers don't use wheel bags ! (although I've tried to fit my DH wheels in my Mavic road wheel bag, and they didn't fit)

I had 4 BMX's and 4 adults in my car just a couple of weeks ago. With both wheels off, they stack in the boot no probs
Have done 2 downhill bikes with front wheels off in it too, no probs
This time of year I tend to just throw it in the back of my van instead

Yeh I know G, it's all lightweight prissy/girly with us roadie's but if you real men DH/MTB/BMX fella's can bare the shame there are wheel bags for you too. I admit I never bought them myself, but always used 'em when I was riding for Giant; Team Trek; Specialised.
Look just like roadie bags but they're wider/harder/tuffer grrrr!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evoc-mountain-b ... bags-pair/

[Rick_RS4]

the hules are god, theyre lockable, but wouldnt leave mine on for long

[Graeme4130]

Considered bike bag and wheel bags.
I'm a roadie nowadays, but two bikes and loads of kit went to Provence this year with no problems.

You're such a Roady Andy, mountain bikers don't use wheel bags ! (although I've tried to fit my DH wheels in my Mavic road wheel bag, and they didn't fit)

I had 4 BMX's and 4 adults in my car just a couple of weeks ago. With both wheels off, they stack in the boot no probs
Have done 2 downhill bikes with front wheels off in it too, no probs
This time of year I tend to just throw it in the back of my van instead

Yeh I know G, it's all lightweight prissy/girly with us roadie's but if you real men DH/MTB/BMX fella's can bare the shame there are wheel bags for you too. I admit I never bought them myself, but always used 'em when I was riding for Giant; Team Trek; Specialised.
Look just like roadie bags but they're wider/harder/tuffer grrrr!

They look a great place to accumulate a serious amount of mouldy mud
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evoc-mountain-b ... bags-pair/

[Graeme4130]

They look a great place to accumulate a serious amount of mouldy mud

[AMB]

They look a great place to accumulate a serious amount of mouldy mud

No doubt about that. Best in the bag than the car maybe? Easily hose cleaned once unzipped.